Base Regular Cab Pickup

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Review

2002
Dodge
Ram 3500 Review

A real workhorse.

Reviewed by Automotive on
9/11/2002

Overview

The 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 is offered in the regular cab version, as well as the longer-wheelbase version, quad cab. When the automaker initially shook the market of full-size pickups in 1994 with its introduction, the others took notice of the semi-looking vehicle. Having the recognizable Ram-style of chrome grille and the subtle hood bulge that Ram pickups are known for simply adds to the masculine and muscular appearance. The effective additions of optional equipment include curtain-type roof-mounted airbags, power-adjustable accelerator and brake pedals, and three all-new colors for the choosing are some of the many reasons that it's at the top of the pack in the segment.

The 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 has the biggest standard tire/wheel combination with the largest brakes within the full-size pickups class. It's evident that the aerodynamics of the truck is improved and that wind noise has been reduced over the previous year’s models. It's able to tow an enormous amount of weight with large amounts of payload for the most benefit to those drivers who want to tackle some serious work or play.

What's New

The 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 offers new colors available that are Graphite, Atlantic Blue, and Light Almond Pearls. Even though the 1500 was entirely overhauled, the 3500 has to wait a year for its revamping.

Exterior

The 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 is unmistakably brawn-inspired as intended by its maker. The quad cabs have a longer wheelbase than the regular cab models and measures around 20 inches in length over its rivals. It has four full-size doors to allow easy entrance of rear passengers and extends to an overall measurement of 250 inches on the long-bed version. The grille and hood give a macho-looking appearance to the exterior, and there are three brand-new colors available. The 16.6-inch wheels are standard on all models and the bigger 20-inch wheels can be added, if desired.

Interior

The 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 offers the seating configuration of 40/20/40 that allows three passengers to be seated comfortably. There is a center console that is available for business people that carry a laptop computer. The quad cab has the option of being fitted with the 60/40 rear seat that has a folding feature for storing taller items. Inside are several standard features that include heated mirrors, air-conditioning, cruise control, power mirrors, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, vinyl upholstery, four-speaker AM/FM stereo system, mast antennae, and the warning system for low fuel.

Performance & Handling

The 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 is available in Regular and quad cab in one-ton configurations and all are furnished with Magnum power. The standard power plant is the 5.9-liter, V-8 engine that can produce 245 horsepower with 335 lb-ft torque, and the optional 8.0-liter V-10 can be installed for 310 hp. For the most serious hauling tasks, the masculine 5.9-liter 24-valve turbodiesel inline-six is optional in order to achieve 245 hp with 505 lb-ft of torque. Both models can be equipped with either four-wheel- or two-wheel-drive systems. It has always been known for the ingenious versatility for switching between on- and off-road capabilities efficiently.

The properly-equipped 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 can haul a whopping 5000 pounds in cargo with a trailer that weighs almost 14,000 pounds. All of the engine choices can be matched to an automatic four-speed optionally and a manual five-speed transmission as standard. The turbodiesel comes with the manual six-speed, and shifting of the automatic transmission is firm and not at all harsh, while the shifter operates very easily on the column.

Safety

The 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 have standard anti-lock rear-wheel brakes but brake assist is optional. Tether anchors for child-seats are installed with five positions for seating, and there is a switch for deactivating the airbag that is optional on regular cab models.